Tray.



M. M. HAMMOND.

TRAY.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. [4, I914.

Patented Ja11.25, 1916.

. INVENTOR.

WITNESSES:

'v tn i nv v" W i i TRAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ItPatented Ql'an, Jttljttt.

Application filed March 14, 1914. Serial No. 32%,625.

To all it itom it may concern Be it known that l, MARY M. I'LiMIvtOND, a citizen of the "United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of ltalissouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Trays, of which the following is a specification.

lVly invention relates to improvements in trays.

'l he object of my invention to provide a pliu'ality of trays with connecting means by which the trays may be superposed one upon tie other, in compact form suitable for trans portation or for storage, or by which the trays may be swung to a stretched out position disposed side by side and in the same plane, whereby goods contained therein may be readily displayed.

it. further object of my invention is to provide connecting mechanism between the trays which will permit of their being swung from a stretched out to a superposed position, and which in either of these positions will firmly hold them from relative lateral movement in a horizontal plane.

Other novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a perspective View of the trays shown in the superposed position. Fig. an end elevation showing the trays in the intermediate position. Fig. 8 is an end elevation showing the trays in the stretched out position.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the difiierent views.

1, i) and 3 designate respectively, the upper intermediate and bottom tray, the trays being, preferably, of the same dimen sions and of rectangular form.

4: designates parallel bars of which there are four pairs, each pair having its ends respectively pivoted by pivots 5 to adjacent ends of adjacent trays.

The distances between the pivots 5 are such that the trays 1, 52, and 8 may be swung from the superposed position shown in Fi 1 to the stretched out position shown in Each bar t is provided at one side edge with a projection 6 which. adapted to engage the adjacent end of the adjacent bar, when. the trays are in the superposed position shown in Fig. l or in the stretched out position shown. in 3. lln these two po tray 1 from relative lateral movement thereon. As shown in Fig. 3, the forward brackets '7 also serve to limit the swinging movement in one direction. of the adjacent bars t, when the trays are in the stretched out position.

Secured to the forward side ot the tray 1. a flexible finger hold 8 consisting of a doubled piece of leather or similar material, by means of which the trays, when. filled, may be readily swung to and from the super posed position, by grasping the tray 3 with one hand and pulling upwardly on the finger hold 8 with the other hand.

I do not limit my invention to the structure illustrated and described, as modifica tions, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what II claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat out, is:

1. In a tray mechanism, two trays, and two pairs of parallel connecting bars, each pair having its ends respectively pivoted to adj acent ends of the trays, the distance between the pivots of said bars being such as to per mit one tray to swing from a superposed position directly above and resting upon the other tray to a position at one side oil? and in the same plane as the other tray, each oi said bars being provided at one edge with a projection arranged to contact with the adja cent end of the adjacent bar when the trays are in the stretched out position, thereby preventing endwisc movement of the bars relative to each other when in the last named position.

2. In a tray mechanism, two trays, and two pairs or parallel connecting bars, each pair having its ends respectively pivoted to adjacent ends of the trays, the distance be tween the pivots oi said bars being such as to permit one tray to swing from a position directly above and superposed upon the other the adjacent edge of the adjacent bar, each of said bars being provided at one edge with a projection arranged to contact with the adjacent end of the adjacent bar when the trays are in the stretched out position, there- 10 by preventing endWise movement of the bars relative to each other when in the last named position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARY M. HAMMOND.

Witnesses:

E. B. HOUSE, WARREN D. HoUsE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

